Like Milbury said,Orprick hits to injure but doesn't believe in fighting,so there is not much an opposing team can do other than punch him a few times and give the Pens a 5 min PP,doesn't seem fair but it is what it is.

I didn't think it was that bad. I mean, not too late as it seemed like the puck just left. I think he gets a game for too much head contact and he appears to leave his feet. The injury to Toews did not appear to be head-related at all though. Looked like the shoulder to me.

Now, getting away from the league response, Orpik and Emelin types have got to start reaping what they sow at some point. I've never believed that anyone "has to fight", especially for being a hard hitter. Hitting is a great part of the game.

But the old-school part of me expects that when you seek big, nasty hits on star players, and you have somewhat of a track record of injuring players with those hits, you should be prepared to defend yourself and take some accountability. Orpik and Emelin waving a white flag after hits that injure people and saying "I don't fight" is getting pretty lame.

Orpik has the right to throw big hits on star players, but teams like the Bruins and Blackhawks also have to be expected to try to deter injuries to said star players. When Orpik lays down like a lamb and looks to the refs to protect him it ushers in the eye-for-eye response as an alternative -- eg. cream Crosby instead. And that's not good for anyone.

I'm so sick of people saying the guy getting hit has to keep his head up. It's physically and mentally impossible to do that all the time so quit saying it. Players like Orpik prey on others who are in vulnerable positions and the league has to put a stop to it. Its intent to injure pure and simple.

He goes in with the shoulder to a player that just had the puck. The problem here is Toews is kind of low, his head where his shoulder would be if he were straight up. I'd be suprised if he gets punished.

He goes in with the shoulder to a player that just had the puck. The problem here is Toews is kind of low, his head where his shoulder would be if he were straight up. I'd be suprised if he gets punished.

Yah players should always be upright like giraffs.. even when they turn corners or reach for pucks.

Now, getting away from the league response, Orpik and Emelin types have got to start reaping what they sow at some point. I've never believed that anyone "has to fight", especially for being a hard hitter. Hitting is a great part of the game.

But the old-school part of me expects that when you seek big, nasty hits on star players, and you have somewhat of a track record of injuring players with those hits, you should be prepared to defend yourself and take some accountability. Orpik and Emelin waving a white flag after hits that injure people and saying "I don't fight" is getting pretty lame.

Orpik has the right to throw big hits on star players, but teams like the Bruins and Blackhawks also have to be expected to try to deter injuries to said star players. When Orpik lays down like a lamb and looks to the refs to protect him it ushers in the eye-for-eye response as an alternative -- eg. cream Crosby instead. And that's not good for anyone.

This is a great post on the matter.Hitting is a huge part of the game and i love big hits but as you state "big hitters" like Emelin,Orprick seem to love hitting unsuspecting players in vulnerable positions and there are many examples out there to prove this point.The problem arises when players try to take exceptions to these hits,especially when the hits are to the teams star or top flight players and lead to injury.I agree that hockey is a fast hard hitting game and players have to keep their head up as players like Orprick love when a player has his head turned or isn't aware a big hit is coming and can lick their chops and level them.

The part that gets to me is when a team wants to stick up for their injured player there is nothing that can be done to deter the likes of Emelin and Orprick as we all know by now they won't fight.The thing i find funny about Pittsburgh is they said nothing against head hits when they had the biggest headhunters on their team but as soon as Sydney got some headaches from an incidental hit all of a sudden these hits had to stop.Now that Orprick takes great delight in hitting vulnerable players with clean by definition "choplicker" hits,everything is ok,but Karma is a mother and if Sydney gets rocked by a blindside hit again,or heaven forbid Patches, lookout,the crying will start.

As SanDog breaks it down - yup, it's clean. Within the "rules." But, as 50below rightly points out my same POV on this - OrpRick, Bylsma, and the Penqueens HAVE to accept that it's also part of the game that an opponent has the right throw a "legal" big one on Syndy or Gena.

And I have no problem with that. You play the game to play the game - and that's part of the chess match. You take my queen; I can take yours.

He goes in with the shoulder to a player that just had the puck. The problem here is Toews is kind of low, his head where his shoulder would be if he were straight up. I'd be suprised if he gets punished.

Yah players should always be upright like giraffs.. even when they turn corners or reach for pucks.

Toews head is at a very constant hight. It's Opricks shoulder that goes up as he leaves his feet to make the hit.